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Pollution curbs monsoon’s cleansing
News:
- The study published in the Science Magazine founds that increased pollution particularly from coal burning have potentially weaken ability of monsoon.
Important Facts:
- The monsoon plays a critical role in flushing out pollutants over the Asia region.
- Researcher of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry from Germany performed atmospheric chemistry measurements by aircraft in a campaign called the “Oxidation Mechanism Observations”.
- Key finding of the campaign.
- The researchers measured the summer monsoon outflow in the upper troposphere between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean.
- The monsoon sustained a “remarkably efficient” cleansing mechanism in which contaminants are rapidly oxidized and deposited on the Earth’s surface.
- Some pollutants were lifted above the monsoon clouds.
- In winter, when atmospheric moisture is low fumes from unburnt particles it get disperse toward the Indian Ocean leading to vast pollution haze.
- However what happened to unburnt particles in summer is still unknown.
- Pollution particles can cool the sea surface temperature mostly in winter.
- It was found that when circulation reverses in summer the cooler sea surface evaporates less which can reduce the moisture flux leading to weaken the monsoon.
- The scientist also pointed out that the monsoon system may be flushing out pollutants but there was uncertainty over this effects the monsoon.
- The “elevated-heat-pump” effect
- This effect has boost the seasonal heating of the Tibetan Plateau.
- The effect result in increasing warming in the upper troposphere during late spring and early summer.
- Spurring has enhanced monsoon rainfall over northern India during June and July.
- Effects on India cities:
- The India Meteorological Department forecast a 3% dip in total amount of the summer monsoon rains this year.
- Pollution levels especially in north India’s Gangetic plane shoot up in winter.
- The cities have witness increase in air pollution during summer seasons.
- Delhi, Gurugram and several parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are currently face huge dust haze.
- The air pollution have put the air quality levels to the ‘severe’ category on the air quality index.
- Indian rainfall is enhanced in spring due to increased loading of black carbon.
- But the monsoon may subsequently weaken through increased cloudiness and surface cooling.